Fortner, Kim Elected to CT Academy of Science and Engineering
Two faculty members of the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science – John Fortner and Theodore Kim - have been elected to membership in the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE). In addition to the two Yale Engineering representatives, 19 other new CASE members are affiliated with Yale University.
John Fortner, professor of chemical and environmental engineering, was cited as an “international expertise and pioneer within the ‘Environmental Nanotechnology’ field, with research focused on interfacial processes and advanced materials relating to environmental-based health, security, and energy challenges.
Fortner is widely recognized for developing novel water treatment and sensing technologies along with fundamentally describing aqueous-based interfacial chemistries/processes. He is well known for his work on nano-scale materials, which can be tuned/optimized for aqueous-based applications, including advanced sensing, separations, and pollutant destruction. Fortner has published more than 100 papers and received numerous research and teaching awards at the highest levels.
Theodore Kim, associate professor of computer science, was cited for his “contributions to physically-based animation in computer graphics that have both increased the visual and dynamic richness of storytelling and increased the diversity of representation in computer generated media by developing mathematically rigorous simulation techniques for animated fluids and solids.”
Kim’s research in physics-based simulation includes fire, water, and humans. His work has appeared in more than two dozen movies, and received a SciTech Oscar in both 2012 and 2022. Previously, Kim was a Senior Research Scientist at Pixar Research, where his screen credits include Cars 3, Coco, Incredibles 2, and Toy Story 4. He currently serves as an Associate Editor for ACM Transactions on Graphics, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, and Computer Graphics Forum.
Election to the Academy is on the basis of scientific and engineering distinction achieved through significant contributions in theory or applications, as demonstrated by original published books and papers, patents, the pioneering of new and developing fields and innovative products, outstanding leadership of nationally recognized technical teams, and external professional awards in recognition of scientific and engineering excellence.
CASE was chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1976 to provide expert guidance on science and technology to the people and to the state of Connecticut, and to promote the application of science and technology to human welfare and economic well-being.